India, Oct. 9 -- South Africa national cricket team and Australia national cricket team begin their three-Test series on October 9, 2026, with the opening match scheduled at Kingsmead in Durban. Play is set to start at 1:00 PM IST, with both sides looking to make an early statement in the World Test Championship cycle. The teams enter the red-ball contest after dealing with injury setbacks: South Africa will be without Kagiso Rabada for the opener, while Australia are missing Cameron Green and Josh Inglis. With both teams aiming to build momentum in the championship race, the first Test offers an important opportunity to establish control of the series.

The teams' most recent meeting came in a three-match ODI series, which South Africa c...